During the 20th Century the incidence of pacifier and digit sucking habits have significantly increased. This phenomenon is of concern to parents and clinicians as well as to those involved 
in preventive health care. Fortunately, it is one of these problems for which we have some answers and possible solutions.
Erik Larsson has been studying artificial sucking habits for more than thirty years. Initially his interest as an orthodontist was to study and correct the effects of these sucking habits on the dentition. However, in the last 20 years he branched out into exploring the medical, anthropological and archeological roots of these habits and their relationship to breast feeding. The reader will find this book an amalgamation of Dr. Larsson’s expertise as a clinician as well as a researcher together with the latest findings from the Iowa Fluoride Study by 
Drs Bishara
and Warren on the same topic. In addition to providing a comprehensive and helpful review of the etiology, prevalence, dental effects and treatment of pacifier and finger sucking habits, this book also provides a historical perspective on the evolution of the feeding habits in humans.
Samir E. Bishara
Iowa City, Iowa
July 2003
